Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-06-11

modern times, the review OF the armies OF
General Grant and General Sherman in the
streets of Washington and their return TO
their homes.
Let us pause at the end Of the war and
imagine with what feelings these returning
soldiers would have received tho prophecy
that. within twenty yeare, the same elements
of hostility to the union cause; the same al
lance between confederates and their sym
pathizers would be in possession OF the
presidential Office and in substantial consrol
of the government; that tho slaves, though
nominslly free, we're deprived, by unlawful
means, of all political power and their mum.
bers counted to swell the political power OF
their former owners. Who could believe
that such could be the RESULT And what
mockery of justice; what reproach to our
patriotism; what shame to our loyal PEG
pie that il is 30. Let rs SEQ where the 1auit
lies.
What was then the feeling and policy OF
the republican party? It was not the s1-
that we had preserved our country, and OF
charity for the motives of defeated confed-
crates, with the firm conviction that they
would share with us all the blessings OF
strong and united people. The republican
party shed no blood after the war was over,
made no coniscations, provided no punish
ments. It said to the confederate soldiers,
Go home and sin no more. There was q
universal desire among republicans Tor g
restoration of the rebel states to their old
place in the union with no conditions except
such as would secure @ faithful observance
of the laws of the United States.
It, first step was the adoption by the several
states of the thirteenth amendment The
second step was to put an end to the doc
trine of secession by the fourteenth amend
ment, as broad and liberal proposition IN
favor of human liberty and human rights as
ever was framed by man. A series OF
measures were then, from time to time,
adopted BY congress-, among which were the
gradual repeal of internal taxes, the reduc.
ton of the public debt, system OF liberal
pensions to union soldiers, revision OF the
tariff laws carefully framed to continue the
protection and encouragement OF American
industry. The Pacific railroad was built.
The English government was compelled to
ers. The interest of the debt was enormous
" reduced by the process of refunding, and,
finally. By the resumption of specie pay
ments, our currency was placed on the coin
basis. This series of measures, solely the
work of the republican party, rapidly made
good the waste of war, and put thu country
upon the road Of unexampled progress ana
prosperity.
In what spirit was this mat by the democ-
racy?
What language can express the cruel and
barbarous atrocity of the controlling Gle.
ments of the south IN their treatment OF
pecislly of the freedmen who had been IN
vested by constitutional amendments, with
liberty, and political rights. Taking advan-
tape Of the detection of Andrew johnson
and his reconstruction policy they com-
menced with laws that denied the freedom
of liberty and speech and of the press, and
even the personal freedom and protection
allowed by the laws Of the most despotic
powers in Europe to the meanest serf, fol-
lowed by wholesale assassination OF un.
armed and undisciplined negroes inflicted
by secret, organized and disguised bands,
using all the agencies of terror and super
stition that could affect the mind of an ig-
norant ard credulous people with such sue
cess that in ten years after the war the freed
men of the south could not, as rule, vote
wherever their vote would change the result,
cheated and robbed and murdered with i'm.
punity. This intimidation was, in many
places, especially in the far south, extended
TO white republicans of character and intel
Iipeuce, among them some confederate
soldiers, who resisted as far as they could
these atrocities, and we're branded with ap
probrious epithets, tabooed and ostracised
ana In some CASES uuIuo!ou' Oooo onS Auo0
deny this? All this and more
in hideous detail, was proven be
fore committees of congress, was reported By
officers of the army and evidenced by every
form of proof known to courts, and, II
many cases, was admitted by the press ant
people of the south and defended. Genera
Raum, q distinguished citizen OF Illinois
has, in the book have before me, compiled
and condensed this evidence, and say K
| A >k pood ~ withnnk hAinC
convinced that all say is true, with revolt
ing details that I do not give. In this wa
and by these means, the democratic party IL
the south now hold in solid and unbrokel
array every southern state with increased
political power conferred by the freedom O
the slaves. This is the basis of their power
Without the terror of ostracism l hav'
described, several of these states, governed
by their interests and convictions, enllght
ened by free discussion, emancipated in fac
ns we'll as in name, would be as thorough!
republican as Illinois. It is said that this
raising the bloody shirt; renewing the ami
mositiee of the war. deny it. The charg
is an unjust reproach of confederate soldiers
What speak of is not the work OF soldiers
but of towards and criminals, not in war bu
in peace. pity the man who cannot DIS
tinQuish between the duty Of soldiers ant
self-imposed crueltlee ana oaroarou
methods born of slavery.
| What has been the course Of the demo
cratic party Of the north while these event
have been going ont At frst there was doub
and denial, but now no honest man car
doubt, unless wilfully ignorant. No demo
crat with q spark Of manhood, who hate
these methods, can shield himself behint
doubt or disbelief.
And, fellow citizens, this Is not thing o.
the past. It is continuing fact Il IL {
fact TO day. There IL not an intelligent maj
in this broad land, of either party, who doe
not know that Mr.. Cleveland h now presi
dent Of the United States By virtue Of crimes
against the elective franchise, including
murder, arson, ballot box stu6ing, forgery
and perjury, but for which James g. Blaine
would now be in his place. There has no
been q moment since tho adoption Of tn
. fifteenth amendment when, II there ooult
, have been fair election for president,
majority of the constitutional voters Of q
! least Eve Of the southern states would no
! have voted for the republican nominee.
The poison Of tho success Of these method
has already affected the election in some o
the great cities of the north, especially il
Chicago ano Cincinnati, where. under tn,